Breaking News: 3 African Countries Suspends Sporting Activates Until Further Notice due to coronavirus

More tragedy hits football fans around the world, 3 African countries suspends sporting activates in their various countries. They have joined the European countries to postpone their league games. South Africa becomes the first African country to suspend their league followed by Ghana and Morocco. Italy was the second in the world to suspend their league after China suspended all sports-related activities in their country due to coronavirus.

African Countries Suspends Sporting Activates, they are:

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared coronavirus as a national disaster and a national threat to their country and so, it was only wise to counsel both football and cricket in the country for the main time. He made this announcement on Sunday.

South Africa Football Association (Safa) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) immediately following the announcement of the president suspended their activities in the country. They also said any gatherings for football of 100 people plus people is temporarily banned, while all forms of cricket have now been terminated for at least two months.

The South African Football Association said: “This measure has a direct impact on all our football activities. Particularly matches as most if not all our matches are attended by more than 100 people.” “Some of the football authorities elsewhere in the world have taken measures such as playing matches in “empty” stadiums without spectators. This response has not proven to be effective in minimizing the spread of the virus.

“In Europe, some players who were participating in matches “behind closed doors” have recently been found to be positive. Therefore, we do not believe that the practice of playing behind closed doors is effective.”

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has also suspended all her football activities, they said on Saturday, that the indefinite ban would affect matches in various Moroccan football competitions in all categories.

The action was taken because of the wide spread of coronavirus, the virus is already in Morocco with 17 cases reported including one death. They posted on their social media handle saying: “The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announces the suspension of all football matches, all categories combined, from the announcement of this press release and until further notice,” 

All league matches including the National Professional Football League matches will now stop in Morocco along with games in the amateur league and the women’s football leagues too. The match between Raja Casablanca and Egyptians Ismaily in the Arab Cup Championship which was to be played on Sunday has been postponed until further notice.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Friday announced the postponement of the third and fourth round of the 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifiers which was to played between 25-30^th of this month. Both the Women’s Under-20 World Cup qualifiers set for later this month and April’s Women’s 2020 Nations Cup qualifiers have also been postponed.

The international qualifying matches at the end of the month has been put on hold. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) members were in Cameroon at the weekend to consider the future of the African Nations Championship. The tournament was to start in April this year but because of the recent development it might not be able to hold.

Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Sunday joined South Africa and Morocco to suspend all public gathering with sporting activates inclusive. The announcement was made by the president of the country President Nana Akufo-Addo. He ordered the suspension of all public gatherings, including sports activates.

The governing body and the country at large are not willing to take chances with the global epidemic coronavirus which is already in their country. They initially wanted to continue their league but they took advice from health authorities, and concluded to suspend the league for now. Ghana joins many other countries in announcing suspensions of football.